Professionals understand the critical value of each of the following appearance care steps:

 

1. WASHING:

Removing loose contaminants on the top of your car's paint surfaces.

2. CLEANING:

Removing bonded and embedded contaminants, blemishes and oxidation that washing cannot remove.

3. POLISHING (Not waxing):

This is the key step for restoring rich, vibrant paint color with sparkling, swirl-free high gloss. BEWARE: Not all products labeled "polish" are truly pure polishes. Some are abrasive and some are waxes. Meguiar's polishes are pure polishes.

4. PROTECTING:

Applying a barrier coat of tough waxes, silicones, resins and/or polymers on top of the paint finish to repel contamination and oxidation.

5. MAINTAINING:

Removing the daily accumulation of surface contaminants (i.e. fallout, diesel exhaust, overspray, hard water spots, tree sap, bird droppings) the instant they are discovered, before they have time to bond or etch into the paint finish. Meguiar's Quik Detailer quickly removes fresh contaminants on the spot while actually adding gloss and protection. Carry it in your car for ready use. (Maintaining has become the most important step for keeping a sharp car looking sharp all the time.)

PAINT SURFACE EVALUATION TEST

Wash and dry both your car and your hands. Now run your finger tips across the paint surfaces which should feel as smooth as glass. If not, you are feeling bonded contaminants and oxidation that must first be removed with a mild, clear coat safe, abrasive cleaner like Meguiar's Clear Coat Body Scrub before applying polish or wax.

PROTECTION TEST

To determine if your paint has enough wax protection, wad a clean, dry towel and rub it against the TOP surfaces of your car after it has been washed and dried. If you hear squeaking, it needs to be waxed.

IMPORTANT CAR WASHING TIPS

Do not use dish washing detergents because they strip off paint protection and accelerate oxidation. Only wash your car when it's cool and in the shade to avoid water spotting. Start at the top and work down. Soft water is best.

TREE SAP MIST

During Spring and Summer, trees release tree sap mist. Unlike droplets of sap, tree sap mist can travel for blocks before landing on cars passing by or parked at some distance. It's impossible to avoid, yet easy to remove when it first lands, by maintaining with Quik Detailer.

BUGS, ROAD TAR, ETC.

After using a tar and bug remover, apply two to three additional coats of wax to affected areas. This will make it more difficult for tar and bugs to "grab hold" of your car's finish in the future.

TIRE CARE TIPS

Avoid ordinary silicone emulsion protectants that cover over your surface contamination with a shiny synthetic coating. These cause tire discoloration and decay. Clean your tires while you dress them with a complex formula like Meguiar's Intensive Protectant that cleans, beautifies and protects in one easy step, leaving tires looking like new, and free of that "plastic" look.

WHEEL CARE TIPS

Most wheels now come with clear coat finishes that require special care. Do not use abrasives or scouring pads on these wheels. One of the safest, most effective wheel cleaners is Meguiar's Mirror Glaze Wheel Cleaner. It contains no acid, toxins or abrasives yet effectively removes stubborn road grime and brake dust and leaves the surface bright and shiny. It is the product recommended by BBS, the world­renowned wheel maker.

INTERIOR CARE

Common silicone emulsion protectants cover over surface contamination, create glare on the dashboard, and leave seats and steering wheels dangerously slippery. Use non­silicone vinyl cleaners and one­step cleaner conditioners with a stiff bristle brush to totally restore and maintain interior vinyl surfaces. Only use specialized leather care products (like Gold Class Premium Leather Cleaner & Conditioner) on leather surfaces. Use specialized cleaners on carpets and fabric upholstery.

CLEAR PLASTIC & WINDOW TINTING

Maintaining clear plastics and window tinting is a delicate matter. These materials can easily scratch and lose their original clarity. We highly recommend the use of Meguiar's Mirror Glaze Clear Plastic Cleaner Polish to safely remove surface contaminants and gently restore optic clarity. Use it on window tinting, convertible rear windows, instrument panel lenses, helmet face shields, sun glasses and hundreds of other clear plastic surfaces.

SPECIAL DETAILING TIPS

• Use 100% cotton terry cloth toweling on your paint finish. The nap protects the finish from particles caught between the surface and the towel. Synthetic blends may scratch your surface. If your polishing cloth pulls color your finish is probably not a clear coat.
• Avoid turning your application cloth over to its other side to apply a different product, because some ingredients may penetrate through and change the chemical balance of the product.
• Avoid putting pressure on tops of ridges where your car's paint is the thinnest.
• Use Meguiar's Quik Detailer and a soft cloth to remove wax residue from emblems, lettering, etc.